OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: MONDAY, 7TH APRIL 2025

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TOPIC: LIKE THE DAY OF PENTECOST VII MEMORISE : "Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least, the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them." Acts 5:15 READ : ACTS 1:1-8 (KJV) 1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come tog...

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. LAMENTATION AS PRAISE! THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2015


Memorise:

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Read: Psalm 30:7-12

7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.


Message

A lamentation is a song mourning or sorrow. In the Bible, lamentations were usually motivated by national disasters (2 Chronicles 35:25), by bereavement (2Samuel 3:33-34), personal suffering (Psalm 102:1-11) or by the judgment of God (Amos 5:1-2). Lamentations could also be inspired by repentance as shown in Daniel 9:4-20.

A lamentation can contain praise of express thanksgiving and gratitude to the Almighty God. Such was the lamentation of Daniel in Daniel 9. It was laced with praises to God even though He was mourning the captivity of the children of Israel. No wonder the Lord heard his lamentation and quickly dispatched an archangel to conform him. Jesus in Matthew 5:4 said:

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

This reveals that there is blessedness even in mourning. There is still a reason to glorify God for His goodness and His mercy even in morning. It shows that though there is lamentation, there will be clear reasons to praise God at the end. Singing songs of sorrow can therefore lead to comfort.

An example of sorrow leading to comfort is seen when we lament for our sins, mistakes and errors in such a way that leads to genuine repentance. Such repentance leads to righteousness.

“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
2nd Corinthians 7:9-10

In the above passage, the lamentation and sorrow of the Corinthians led to repentance. Paul rejoiced to see this genuine repentance take place in the life of the people. Godly sorrow brings repentance unto salvation. What started as lamentation or a song of sorrow, produced reasons to praise God at the end. Lamentation becomes a source of praise when godly sorrow produces genuine repentance. Such repentance leads to the joy of salvation, divine approval and blessing. 

Prayer point :

Father, let your Church experience godly sorrow that leads to genuine repentance in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : EZEKIEL 19-20 and REVELATION 7

AUTHOR : Pastor E.A. ADEBOYE

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